Walker, James

Born: 1881 AD
Died: 1946 AD

Nationality: echo $strNat;?>
Categories: echo $strCat;?>

2.6 (52.5%) 24 votes

1881 – Born on June 19th in New York City. The flamboyant mayor of New York City (1925–32), a frequenter of Broadway theatre and the upper-class speakeasies, such as the Central Park Casino. His administration was marred by corruption.

1904 – The son of Irish Catholic immigrants who lived in New York’s Greenwich Village, Walker attended Saint Francis Xavier College and graduated from New York Law School.

1912 – After graduation, however, he began frequenting Broadway’s theatres and vaudeville, writing popular songs and eventually marrying a musical comedy singer.

– He was admitted to the New York State bar.

1909 – Already gravitating toward politics, he became a district captain and a member of the Assembly.

1914 – Under the tutelage of Alfred E. Smith, was elected to the State Senate.

1925 – With the backing of the Tammany organization and Governor Smith, Walker was nominated as the Democratic mayoralty candidate in the primary elections.

– He served as mayor of New York City for two terms. During his first term he created the Department of Sanitation, brought about unification of the city’s public hospitals, and made considerable improvements in the playgrounds and park systems; and, under his guidance, the Board of Transportation approved contracts for the construction of an elaborate subway system.

1929 – Reelected to office, he came under critical fire from several sources.

1931 – The New York legislature formed a committee to investigate the affairs of New York City. As a result of this investigation, extensive corruption was revealed and 15 charges were levelled against Walker.

1932 – Accused, among other things, of being actuated by improper and illegal considerations and of being unable to explain satisfactorily the large sums of money deposited in his bank account, he resigned on September 1st.

1935 – He then went to Europe with his showgirl-mistress and did not return to the United States.